Ice presents new challenges for first responders (PHOTOS)

Published: Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 07:05 PM.

On an ordinary day, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Lt. Jay Jones gets only a handful of traffic calls. But between 1 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. Thursday, deputies were called to 40 accidents — six rollovers — as people struggled to drive on the icy roads.

“I don’t think the public was prepared,” Jones said. “There were no significant injuries. People were just driving too fast for the conditions, and a lot of the people crashing had no legitimate reason to be out.”

In Walton County, an ambulance responding to a medical call veered off the road, Walton County Fire Rescue Chief Brian Coley said.

The paramedics were not injured and the ambulance did not appear to have sustained much damage, but Coley said the ice slowed all emergency responders.

“Yesterday was stressful,” Coley said. “We learned a lot of lessons. We had to slow way down below normal and added a lot to our transport time, take alternate routes. It was difficult.”

The Okaloosa and Walton sheriff’s offices used extra deputies, including school resource officers and investigators, to help with patrols. They monitored ice on roads and bridges and directed traffic at intersections.

“We are not accustomed to the conditions we faced (Wednesday) through the recovery of the ice storm,” Walton Sheriff‘s Office spokeswoman Catherine Rodriguez said. “ … To my knowledge, we only lost one windshield wiper off a patrol car.”

Walton County reported 29 vehicle crashes Rodriguez said.

In Okaloosa, a deputy wrecked while responding to a traffic call about 3 p.m. Wednesday. The patrol car sustained about $500 in damage, Jones said.

Firefighters were called to man bridges, help stranded drivers and handle medical emergencies and alarm activations. Fort Walton Beach Fire Battalion Chief Shannon said he lost count early on how many calls his crews made.

“People were on bridges, getting on ice to have fun and on roads for no reason. It made yesterday difficult for us,” Stone said. “Our response was completely different, totally different than what we’re used to. It was a little bit challenging navigating through.

“We didn’t run our sirens as much so people wouldn’t make quick evasive moves, and we had to drive slower than normal.”

East Niceville firefighters had to move patients down frozen stairs and maneuver rigs along icy roads. Assistant Fire Chief David Birch said they had to prepare for the ice and then the aftermath.

“Picking up the pieces, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last 36 hours,” Birch said.

On an ordinary day, Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Lt. Jay Jones gets only a handful of traffic calls. But between 1 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. Thursday, deputies were called to 40 accidents — six rollovers — as people struggled to drive on the icy roads.

“I don’t think the public was prepared,” Jones said. “There were no significant injuries. People were just driving too fast for the conditions, and a lot of the people crashing had no legitimate reason to be out.”

In Walton County, an ambulance responding to a medical call veered off the road, Walton County Fire Rescue Chief Brian Coley said.

The paramedics were not injured and the ambulance did not appear to have sustained much damage, but Coley said the ice slowed all emergency responders.

“Yesterday was stressful,” Coley said. “We learned a lot of lessons. We had to slow way down below normal and added a lot to our transport time, take alternate routes. It was difficult.”

The Okaloosa and Walton sheriff’s offices used extra deputies, including school resource officers and investigators, to help with patrols. They monitored ice on roads and bridges and directed traffic at intersections.

“We are not accustomed to the conditions we faced (Wednesday) through the recovery of the ice storm,” Walton Sheriff‘s Office spokeswoman Catherine Rodriguez said. “ … To my knowledge, we only lost one windshield wiper off a patrol car.”

Walton County reported 29 vehicle crashes Rodriguez said.

In Okaloosa, a deputy wrecked while responding to a traffic call about 3 p.m. Wednesday. The patrol car sustained about $500 in damage, Jones said.

Firefighters were called to man bridges, help stranded drivers and handle medical emergencies and alarm activations. Fort Walton Beach Fire Battalion Chief Shannon said he lost count early on how many calls his crews made.

“People were on bridges, getting on ice to have fun and on roads for no reason. It made yesterday difficult for us,” Stone said. “Our response was completely different, totally different than what we’re used to. It was a little bit challenging navigating through.

“We didn’t run our sirens as much so people wouldn’t make quick evasive moves, and we had to drive slower than normal.”

East Niceville firefighters had to move patients down frozen stairs and maneuver rigs along icy roads. Assistant Fire Chief David Birch said they had to prepare for the ice and then the aftermath.

“Picking up the pieces, that’s what we’ve been doing for the last 36 hours,” Birch said.